MFA AND CONSERVATORY FILMMAKING PROGRAMS:
In our two-year filmmaking program and MFA degree program in Filmmaking, each student builds a foundation in directing, cinematography, writing, and editing by making eight short films in the first year and working on the crew of his or her classmates' films. In the second year the primary focus is on feature filmmaking. This includes screenwriting, directing, cinematography and producing. Two-year and MFA students write and develop a feature film project, and have the option of directing the feature film as their Thesis graduation project. Classes in screenwriting, directing, cinematography and producing support the production of the feature film.

SCREENWRITING PROGRAMS:
Our students write feature film scripts In all of our screenwriting programs, from our eight-week and evening workshops to our Conservatory and MFA in Screenwriting programs. In the conservatory programs our students write two feature film scripts, taking one of them through a series of revisions to a final script suitable for the market. They get the opportunity to direct scenes from their feature scripts, pitch to industry guests, and hold public screenplay readings,.

PRODUCING PROGRAMS:
The primary emphasis in our Producing Programs (One and Two-Year as well as our MFA degree) is the feature film industry, including feature film production, and all the facets of producing feature films. Each student develops all the production materials including budget, schedule, option agreement (if necessary) and marketing plan for a feature film of his or her own conception. Two year and MFA producing students may choose to produce their feature film at the New York Film Academy to complete their thesis graduation requirement.

The holy grail in the film industry is still the internationally released feature film. Many of our graduates have succeeded in reaching this milestone. They include Jonathan Jakubowicz who wrote and directed Secuestro Express; Kim Chapiron who wrote and directed Sheitan; Daniel Schechter and Chandra Simon who wrote and produced The Big Bad Swim; Elise McCredie who wrote and directed Strange Fits of Passion; Mark Bamford who wrote and directed Cape of Good Hope; Alejandro Chomski who wrote and directed Today and Tomorrow; Kayvan Mashayekh who wrote and directed The Keeper; Philip Goodhew who wrote and directed Intimate Relations; Khyentse Norbu who wrote and directed The Cup; Matt Mochary who co-directed and produced the documentary feature Favela Rising; and Lee Hirsch produced and directed the documentary feature Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony.